reached in each of the geographical divisions and in the United States as a whole either in November, 1912, or in April, 1913, both for the simple averages and for the weighted averages. During the one-month period from March 15 to April 15, 1913, prices in the United States advanced 1.7 per cent according to the simple average and 1.4 per cent according to the weighted average. The changes during the one-month period in each of the three years 1911, 1912, and 1913 were as follows: Considering prices in the United States as a whole, the simple average of the relative prices for 15 principal articles of food shows the following: Jan. 15, 1913, compared with Jan. 15, 1912...... Apr. 15, 1913, compared with Apr. 15, 1912. 3.8 per cent advance. 3.8 per cent advance. 6.0 per cent advance. 3.9 per cent advance. When the relative prices are weighted according to the average consumption of the various articles of food in workingmen's families the changes in prices within a year were as follows: Jan. 15, 1913, compared with Jan. 15, 1912..... 2.9 per cent advance. 3.2 per cent advance. 6.2 per cent advance. 4.1 per cent advance. The next table compares prices in each geographical division and in the United States as a whole on March 15, 1913, and on April 15, 1913, with prices on the corresponding date in 1912. PER CENT OF INCREASE OR DECREASE IN RETAIL PRICES OF ALL ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR WHICH DATA ARE SHOWN IN THIS REPORT: PRICE ON MARCH 15 AND APRIL 15, 1913, COMPARED WITH PRICE ON THE CORRESPONDING DATE IN 1912, SIMPLE AND WEIGHTED AVERAGES, BY GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS. The relative retail prices in the United States, considered as a whole, of each of the 15 principal articles of food for the 23 years and 4 months, 1890 to April, 1913, are presented in the table which follows. General Table III of this report shows similar data for each of the five geographical divisions for the period from January, 1911, to April, 1913, and General Table IV, in Bulletin 113, shows similar data for each of the five geographical divisions for the 23 years, 1890 to 1912. This table shows yearly prices for 1890 to 1912, and prices each month from January, 1911, to April, 1913. RELATIVE RETAIL PRICES OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FOOD [Average price for 1890-1899-100.0. The relative prices shown in this report for 1890 to 1907 do not ex IN THE UNITED STATES, 1890 TO APRIL, 1913, BY ARTICLES. actly agree with those shown in Bulletin 77 for the reason that a smaller number of cities are included.] In the above table, as in the preceding table of relative prices, the average price for the 10-year period, 1890 to 1899, is the base, or 100. The figures in the column for round steak, for example, indicate that if the average price of round steak for the 10-year period 1890 to 1899 be considered 100, the price in 1890 was 97.6, or 2.4 per cent below the average for 1890 to 1899; the price in 1900 was 109.8, or 9.8 per cent above the average for 1890 to 1899; the price on April 15, 1913, was 199.1 or 99.1 per cent above the average price for 1890 to 1899, etc. BREAD WEIGHTS. This report shows, together with prices, the scaling weight (weight of dough before baking), in ounces, on March 15, 1913, and on April 15, 1913, of the principal brands of baker's wheat bread as reported by representative bakeries in each of the cities. Reports were secured from a number of bakeries showing bread weights on corresponding dates in 1912. Comparisons of weights on April 15, 1913, and on April 15, 1912, are available for 270 brands, and of that number the weight of 76 brands was heavier on April 15, 1913, than on the corresponding date in 1912, the weight of 136 brands was unchanged, and the weight of 58 brands was lighter. The weights of wheat bread shown in General Table II of this report were reported from representative bakeries in each city. In order to avoid identification, names of firms and brands are not disclosed, but each firm has been given a number and each brand reported by a firm has been designated by a letter. COAL. The table which follows compares, for each of the given geographical divisions, prices on April 15, each year, 1908 to 1913, inclusive, with the price on April 15, 1907. Three descriptions of coal are included-Pennsylvania anthracite, white ash, stove size; Pennsylvania anthracite white ash, ehestnut size; and bituminous. Bituminous coal is reported only for cities in which there is considerable demand for bituminous coal for household use. The comparisons are of coal for household use as sold in ton lots. General Table IV of this report shows actual prices of the three descriptions of coal above named, in ton lots and in half-ton lots. |